EU President urges for Turkey-EU-style migration deal in Libya

BY Libyan Express Aug 29, 2017 - 10:55

The President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, urged the EU countries to push for establishing refugee camps inside Libya. (Photo: Internet)

European Parliament President Antonio Tajani has called on EU leaders to set aside €6 billion in financial aid for Libya to stop migrants from entering Europe via the central Mediterranean.

“‘We have to launch a large EU plan for Africa,’ European Parliament president added.

“Europe gave Turkey €6 billion to close the Balkan route. Now it’s the moment to do the same with Libya,” he told La Repubblica on Monday. The interview came ahead of a meeting in Paris between four leading EU countries (France, Germany, Italy and Spain) and key African countries in the migration crisis (Libya, Chad and Niger).

The money would be used “to promote an agreement between Tripoli and Benghazi [the two rival Libyan governments]” and to neighboring Niger and Chad to help them close the Libyan corridor and to set up registration centers, run by the U.N., where migrants could be fed and sheltered while their claims for asylum are screened.

In addition, a long-term financial investment of up to €60 billion will be needed to stem the flow of migrants from Africa, Tajani said.

“We need €50-60 billion in fresh money, which by leveraging the private sector could mobilize up to €500 billion, ” said the Parliament president, adding that this money was needed to help address the root of the migration crisis by strengthening African economies.

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